Football players protest national anthem

BUT, FOR NOW, WE HAVE A BIT MORE FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS: ATHLETES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN TAKING ACTION TO PROTEST UNFAIR TREATMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS BY POLICE OFFICERS.

THIS SEASON, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS QUARTERBACK COLIN KAEPERNICK BEGAN KNEELING DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE BEGINNING OF NFL FOOTBALL GAMES. HE SAYS IT’S HIS RIGHT TO GET HIS MESSAGE OUT, BUT OTHERS SAY IT IS DISRESPECTFUL, SINCE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM NOT ONLY REPRESENTS THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FOUGHT – AND DIED -- FOR IT.

HIS ACTIONS CERTAINLY HAVE PEOPLE TALKING. OUR OWN SUPERSTAR ATHLETE - CLEVELAND CAVALIER LEBRON JAMES WEIGHED IN ON THE ISSUE:

Standing for the national anthem is something I will do. That's who I am. That's what I believe in, but that doesn't mean I don't respect and don't agree with what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion, and he's doing it in the most peaceful way I've ever seen someone do something.

DONALD TRUMP SAID THAT KAEPERNICK SHOULD LEAVE THE COUNTRY IF HE’S DISSATISFIED – AND TO THAT -- KAEPERNICK RESPONDED:

(Colin Kaepernick/NFL player) "Very ignorant statement that if you don't agree with what's going on here and that if you want justice and liberty and freedom for all that you should leave the country. Um, no. He always says, "Make America great again," Well America has never been great for people of color and that's something that needs to be addressed let's make America great for the first time."

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE ISSUE, PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID THAT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM HELPS UNITE THE COUNTRY, BUT THAT IT IS KAEPERNICK’S RIGHT TO RESPOND TO IT HOW HE’D LIKE.

(President Obama) "In a democracy like ours, there are going to be a lot of folks who do stuff that we just don't agree with. But, as long as they're doing it within the law, then we can voice our opinion objecting to it but, it's also their right."

THIS IS CERTAINLY A COMPLICATED ISSUE, AND IF YOU WANT TO DIVE IN FURTHER, GO TO OUR WEBSITE: NEWSDEPTH DOT IDEASTREAM DOT ORG. WE’LL HAVE LINKS AND RESOURCES POSTED SO YOU CAN LEARN MORE.

Instructional Links

Audio Clip: NRP Weekend Edition, How Did The National Anthem Get To Be A Mainstay Of Sports In The First Place?